Dakota Beacon

The first topic of conversation when two vets meet for the first time usually involves their shared military experiences. Beyond that, some choose to bind themselves in veterans’ organizations.

What follows is a reflection for veterans by a veteran on our special designated day. Civilians are welcome to tag along.

Veterans I’ve met, especially from the draft era (from 1940 to 1973 ten million men were drafted), almost without exception remember with bittersweet nostalgia their days of military service. Many were drafted reluctantly, although a few joined voluntarily and some even stayed in the military for a career. That speaks volumes in affirming their generally positive experience.

Veterans, especially those who served as youngsters, found the military to be a type of finishing school as they transitioned from adolescence into adulthood. Many who wished to elude the draft were motivated to enlist in other services to avoid the rigors of Army field duty. Many people were never aware that the draft also populated the other services though not to the extent as with the Army. Either way, the vast majority served honorably much to their credit.

Remember the Friday night “GI party” under the tutelage of the platoon sergeant in preparation for Saturday morning’s inspection? They weren’t fun, but they were a shared experience teaching us, among other things, to work as a team to accomplish the mission.

Those “parties” served another purpose. In preparation for the inspection of personnel and equipment they taught us to keep our gear in tip top shape ready for immediate use. Individuals who performed well in the inspection were rewarded with a pass for a Saturday night in town. The inspections also taught us the value of cleanliness and sanitation. In retrospect, many an army has been defeated because of illness, disease, and unpreparedness.

Unit readiness, of course, held a high priority. Equipment readiness, personnel readiness and training readiness consumed most of our days. Equipment, including vehicles and weapons, had to be maintained and ready for deployment. Personnel readiness determined how many people were available for deployment.

Training readiness involved individual, small unit and large unit training. We were always training. In peacetime we were training for the next fight and exercising various plans. In wartime we trained between engagements.

We all had a role to play in mission accomplishment. “Deadlined” equipment; personnel in jail, AWOL or sick; and poor training all detracted from the unit’s ability to fight and win.

NCOs and officers were held accountable for unit readiness. By and large, they had the success of their units and the welfare of their personnel at heart. Most reached their rank through hard work and skill in keeping their people and units fit to fight.

Some servicemen and women were just not cut out for the authoritarian military structure. Nevertheless, the large majority served honorably, then moved on to succeed in the civilian sector. Because of their military service they carried with them what had been instilled through training: a sense of discipline, obedience, punctuality, and orderliness.

Friends made in the military last for years. Reunions keep many comrades in touch. Even the most hard-bitten officers and NCOs mellow with time. Shared experiences in good times and bad supplied the bond.

Veterans also share different perspectives of the era in which they served. World War II vets returned home to a tumultuous welcome. Korea was termed “The Forgotten War” and vets returned almost unnoticed. Veterans from the Vietnam era were treated shabbily compared to other eras. Rudyard Kipling’s words from his poem “Tommy” ring true.

“For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an’ ‘Chuck him out, the brute!’

But it's ‘Saviour of 'is country’ when the guns begin to shoot…”

Veterans from the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan by and large fared much better.

Through the years the equipment and force structure has changed, and policies have been adapted to the modern age. Younger men and women replenished the ranks replacing those who went before them. But the ideals of mission, readiness, discipline, and the sense of camaraderie remain timeless.

A word to the wise from my own experience. Check in with your VA County Veterans Service Officer at least once a year. Federal laws change; VA rules and regulations change. Ask questions and stay current. I did and the result was disability compensation I never realized I had coming.

All veterans from current and bygone decades should expect a well-deserved salute from their fellow citizens. More importantly, they merit the heartfelt thanks of a grateful nation this Veterans Day.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).